Floating roof construction



May 26, 96 R. w. BODLEY FLOATING ROOF CONSTRUCTION Filed July '7, 1961 FIGJ IN VENTOR. Robert W Bod/ey United States Patent Ofitice 3,134,501 Patented May 26, 1964 3,134,501 FLOATING ROOF CUNSTRUCTHGN Robert W. Bodley, Highland, ind, assignor to Union Tank Car Company, Chicago, EL, a corporation of New Jersey Filed July 7, 1961, Ser. No. 122,497 2 Claims. (Cl. 220-26) The present invention relates generally to storage tanks and, more particularly, to storage tanks of the type embodying a roof which floats on the liquid stored in the tank.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved storage tank.

It is another object of the present invention to provide in a storage tank a new and improved floating roof construction.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved floating roof construction of the sectionalized type.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved floating roof construction embodying a plurality of sections which are individually buoyant and connected together in vapor-tight relation.

The above and other objects are realized in accordance with the present invention by providing a new and improved storage tank of the floating roof type. The floating roof is adapted to float on substantially the entire surface of the liquid stored within the tank and, in this connection, prevents the volatilization of the stored liquid under changing atmospheric conditions. The floating roof is of the sectionalized type and embodies a number of sections which individually float on the stored liquid.

The floating roof sections are so configured as to coact with a sealing arrangement that maintains the sections in vapor-tight relation. The present invention is peculiarly adapted for economical manufacture and economical assembly in the field. Although it has significant economical advantages, the floating roof construction is nonetheless highly dependable and eflicient in preventing volatilization of stored liquid and, further, in preventing the passage of any volatilized liquid above the floating roof.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, taken With further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a storage tank in which is used a floating roof embodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the storage tank of FIG. 1, illustrating both the shell of the storage tank and the floating roof of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective View of the floating roof of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a slightly enlarged sectional View taken along line 55 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawing and, more particularly, to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a storage tank of the floating roof type, identified generally by reference numeral 10. The storage tank 10 includes a circular floor 12 which is located on the ground 14 and, further, includes a generally cylindrical shell 16 extending upwardly from the periphery of the floor 12. The shell 16 supports the edge of a fixed roof 18 that has an upwardly extending conical shape. In addition to the shell 16, several vertical columns 20 extend upwardly from the floor 12 to support the fixed roof 18 at points spaced from its edge. As shown, a ladder 22 extends upwardly from the floor 12 to the fixed roof 18 so that its upper end is adjacent to a manway 24, whereby access to the inside of the tank 10 is provided. The tank 10 serves to store liquid 26, for example, petroleum products, which is fed into and Withdrawn. from the tank 10 through suitable conduits and valving arrangements (not shown).

For the purpose of preventing the volatilization of the liquid 26 stored in the tank 10 and, further, for the purpose of maintaining any vapor adjacent to the liquid, a floating roof 28 floats on and extends over substantially the entire surface of the liquid 26. As is known to those skilled in the art, the floating roof 28 moves vertically within the storage tank 10 as the level of the liquid Within the tank 10 changes. To prevent vapor loss, a suitable sealing arrangement 30 is supported from the floating roof 28 so as to frictionally engage the shell 16, irrespective of the position of the'floating'roof 28 within the tank 10. The floating roof 28 is suitably apertured, as indicated by reference numeral 32, to accommodate the columns 20 and is suitably apertured, as indicated by referencenumeral 34, to accommodate the ladder 22. Suitable sealing arrangements (not shown) are provided on the floating roof 28 to respectively coact with the columns 2t and ladder 22 for the purpose of preventing vapor loss.

Considering now in greater detail the floating roof 28 and inviting attention to FIGS. 2 through 5, it comprises a plurality of sections 40, identified generally by reference numeral 40 and individually by reference numerals 40a, 40b, 400, etc. As shown, each of the sections 40 float directly on the surface of the stored liquid 26 and, in this connection, are so constructed as to be individually buoyant. The sections 40 that are located in the center of the floating roof 28, e.g., section 40b, are rectangular in plan, whereas the sections 40 located adjacent to the shell 16, e.g., section 40a, are partially curved in plan to conform to the curvature of the shell 16. However, irrespective of the plan shape of each section 40, the sections 40 are mechanically connected together and also are sealed together in air-tight relation.

Considering now the sections 40 in greater detail, each section is fabricated from flat sheet metal requiring only cutting and welding operations to form its specific shape. Specifically, certain portions are cut away from the flat sheet metal, certain parts are deformed, and the adjoining deformed edges are Welded or suitably secured together to form the section 40.

In order to simplify the description, only the section 40b shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 will be described. As clear- 1y illustrated, the section 40b includes a flat horizontal bottom 42b of generally rectangular configuration. Extending upwardly from the edges of the bottom 42b are walls 44b, 46b, 48b, and 50b, which coact with the bottom 42b to provide pan-like construction. Asshown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the walls 44b, 46b, 48b, and 5% are secured together and to the bottom 42b in such a manner as to prevent any liquid from passing into the pan-shaped 3 7 Construction. The upper ends of the walls 44b, 46b, 48b, and 50b are angulated inwardly to form horizontally extending flanges 54b, 56b, 58b, and 60b, respectively. These flanges. 54b, 56b, 58b, and 60b form an integral part of the section 40b and coact with sealing arrangements 61 used to interconnect adjacent sections. By the above described construction, the section 40b, as well as all the sections 40, is adapted to float individually on the surface of the liquid 26 stored in the tank 10. Even though the sections 40 are mechanically connected together, each of the sections 40 is individually buoyant and, by virtue of its construction, only slightly immersed in the liquid .26.

As previously indicated, the sections 40am secured together in air-tight relation by. the sealing arrangement 61. As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the sealing, arrangements 61= are associated with the adjacent walls of adjacent sections 40. Since thesealing arrangements 61-between adjacent sections 40 are identical, only a single sealing arrangement 61, for example," that one'disposed be- .tween sections 40 and 40b, will be described to avoid unnecessary repetition. I

- As best shown in'FIGS. 3 "and4, the sealing arrangement 61 comprises a .T-shaped gasket.62 secured at spaced apart points by suitable fasteners, e.g., clips 70, to the adjacent sections 40a and 40b. More particularly, the

gasket 62 includes a vertical leg 64 disposedbetween walls 44a and 44b of sections40a and 40b and, further, in-

As clearly shown in FIG. 4, the vertical portion 64 of the gasket 62 extends downwardly between the walls 44a and 44b to provide a vapor seal between sections 40a and 40b. In addition, the horizontal portion 66 is dimensioned so as to extend slightly beyond the ends of the flanges 54a and 54b. By virtue of its T-shaped construction, the gasket 62 mates with the upstanding structure of sections 4011 and 40b in such a manner that an excellent sealing engagement is obtained continuously along the flanges 54a and 54b and approximately two-' thirds of the distance along the walls 54a and 54b.

In order to'maintain the gasket 62 in proper sealing position,-illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the clips 70 are secured to the sections 40a and 40b at appropriately spaced apart points. More specifically, each clip 70 coacts with cludesa horizontal portion 66.overlying the flanges 54a the gasket 62 and the flanges 54a and 54b.of thesections 40a and 40b. The'clip 70 is of the deformable type and is initially configured to pass down over the gasket and the top 72 are arms 74 and 76 which engage the sides of the gasket portion66. .The bottom of the arms74 and 76 are deformedto provide, inwardlyextendinglips 78 and 79 which underlie the flanges54a and 54b. In order to positively secure the clip to the flanges 54a and 545,-

pairs of vertically extending notches 80 are defined vertically in the arms 74 and 76, the notches 80 being formed by the clenching device at the sametime the lips 78 and 79 are formed. As shown, these notches 80 are laterally aligned and longitudinally spaced along the clip 70, as

best seen in FIG. 3; so that opposite, spaced apart points of the arms 74 and 76 engage the ends of the flanges 54a and 54b, thereby. fixedly securing together the adjacent sections 40a'and 40b. Because ofthedisposition of the a r v a gasket 62 between the walls 440: and 44b of the sections 40, a limited resiliency is imparted to the sealing arrangement 61 so that limited movement between adjacent sections 40 is permitted.

As previously suggested,'the plan shape of the sections 40 located adjacentthe shell 16 and locatedin the center of the floating roof 28 is difierent. In addition, these sections, for example, 40a and 40b, difler in one other respect and, that is, in the length of the inwardly directed flanges' As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, the length of the flange 58a of section 40a is somewhat longer than the lengths of the flanges 54a and 54b of sections 4011 and 40b, respectively. This construction is required in order that there may be provided openings (not shown) to ac through the ends30a and 30b of thepneumatic tube 31. Although not disclosed, additional supporting structure can be provided to positivelyposition the pneumatic tube 31 in its desired position between the section 40a and the shell 16, so that irrespective of vertical movement of the floating roof 28 the pneumatic tube 31 prevents escape of vapor accumulatingin the spacebetween the sections 40 and shell 16.

While the embodiment described herein is at present considered to be preferred, it is understood that various modifications. and improvements may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications and improvements as fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the invention.

What is desired to be claimed and secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A floating roof construction of the type adapted to be installed in a storage vessel having a vertical shell, comprising a plurality of individually buoyant, peripheral pan-like sections continuously spaced from said tank shell, a plurality of individually buoyant, inner pan-like sections located radially inward of said peripheral sections, each section including a generally flat bottom'contacting the liquid stored in the vessel, a wall structure extending upwardly from the edges of said bottom in sealtight relation with said bottom, a flange construction extending laterally'from the upper end of said wall struc-' ture; sealing means supported from said peripheral sections to be disposed between the tank shell and the peripheral sections to provide a vapor seal between the roof construction and the vertical shell; T-shaped gasket means having first portions extending vertically and continuous- 1y between adjacent wall'structures and second portions overlying adjacent flange constructions; and clamp-on fastening means coacting with said gasket means and said wall structure at spaced apart points for mechanically securing and vapor sealing adjacent peripheral inner sections.

2. A floating roof construction of the type adapted to be installed in a storage vessel having a vertical shell,

comprising a plurality of individually buoyant pan-like sections connected together in mechanical and vapor seal relation, each of said sections having a relatively flat bot-. tom in engagement with the liquid stored in said vessel, a wall structure extending upwardly from the edges .of the bottom, a flange construction extending inwardly from the upper end of said Wall structure toward the center of the section; T-shaped gasket. sealing means having first.

portions extending vertically and continuously between adjacent wall structures to space apart said sections, said T-shaped gasket sealing means including second portions overlying all parts of the adjacent flange constructions, a' V plurality of relatively small clip means extending over. the second portions of said T-shaped gasket means, around the edges of said second portions of theT-shaped gasket means, engaging said adjacent flange constructions to mechanically secure the pan-like sections together and, further, fixedly dispose the T-shaped gasket means between adjacent pan-like sections to assure a tight vapor seal between the sections, said clip means being spaced 5 apart along the flange construction distances equal to several times the length of the clip means, thereby permitting the gasket means to be secured to the wall structure with a. minimum of effort and in a minimum of time, and sealing means efiecting a vapor seal between certain 10 ones of said sections and said vertical shell.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Bohnhardt May 21, 1929 Sipe Aug. 6, 1929 Twogood Mar. 21, 1933 Griffin Apr. 4, 1933 Kramer Nov. 6, 1934 Reynolds Apr. 17, 1962 

2. A FLOATING ROOF CONSTRUCTION OF THE TYPE ADAPTED TO BE INSTALLED IN A STORAGE VESSEL HAVING A VERTICAL SHELL, COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUALLY BUOYANT PAN-LIKE SECTIONS CONNECTED TOGETHER IN MECHANICAL AND VAPOR SEAL RELATION, EACH OF SAID SECTIONS HAVING A RELATIVELY FLAT BOTTOM IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE LIQUID STORED IN SAID VESSEL, A WALL STRUCTURE EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE EDGES OF THE BOTTOM, A FLANGE CONSTRUCTION EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM THE UPPER END OF SAID WALL STRUCTURE TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE SECTION; T-SHAPED GASKET SEALING MEANS HAVING FIRST PORTIONS EXTENDING VERTICALLY AND CONTINUOUSLY BETWEEN ADJACENT WALL STRUCTURES TO SPACE APART SAID SECTIONS, SAID T-SHAPED GASKET SEALING MEANS INCLUDING SECOND PORTIONS OVERLYING ALL PARTS OF THE ADJACENT FLANGE CONSTRUCTIONS, A PLURALITY OF RELATIVELY SMALL CLIP MEANS EXTENDING OVER THE SECOND PORTIONS OF SAID T-SHAPED GASKET MEANS, 